Classic TT a highlight of 2016 Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling line-up

Michael Rutter on his Honda at the Gooseneck during the Okells 350cc Classic TT raceCredit:
Dave Kneen

25 August 2016 • 10:43am

Arguably the most famous circuit in the world, the Isle of Man TT course, is reverberating to the sound of historic racing bikes on the full 37-plus miles of the public-road Mountain circuit during the 2016 Festival of Motorcycling, writes Ian Marsden.

It goes without saying that the main attraction in terms of racing will be the Classic TT which takes place on August 27 and 29 after more than a week of racing for all classes.

Historic bike racing is enjoying a resurgence, and the Classic TT is undoubtedly fuelling this interest. For many years the widely held perception has been that classic racing is for dewy-eyed old duffers and motorcycling anoraks. The Classic TT has dispelled that and brought classic racing to the masses. What makes the event unique is that aside from the fact that there is iconic machinery from all over the world to marvel (and lust) over, this machinery is then thrashed to within an inch (or few revs) of its life by contemporary racers over what is arguably the most arduous race course in the World.

This year’s line-up includes outright TT course lap record holder and 13 times TT winner Michael Dunlop, 23-time winner John McGuinness and 11-time winner Bruce Anstey, to name but a few of the current TT establishment. These and their contemporaries will be the main attraction, but let’s not forget the rest of the field of lesser known names who compete not to win but for the love of the sport, the Mountain course and their passion for keeping classic machinery alive.

Racing bikes are celebrated throughout the festival, with the Classic events being a regular crowd-pleaserCredit:
Dave Kneen

The names of Dunlop and McGuinness will forever be etched into the history and fabric of the Isle of Man, but then so will the names of the machines that they hope will carry them to glory. Names that, on the whole, gone but not forgotten: BSA, Matchless, Velocette, and Vincent to name but a few.

Then there are the famous marques that have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, such as MV Agusta, Norton, Ducati and Triumph.

A heady mix indeed. A mix that harks back to when the Isle of Man hosted a round of the World Championship races and welcomed the superstars of the day; Mike Hailwood, Giacamo Agostini and Phil Read, world champions all, and, before them, the likes of Bill Ivy, Geoff Duke and John Surtees. I struggle to think of a more apt location for classic racing to take place.

In June, the focus was on the rivalry between Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson at the TT “proper”, where Dunlop eventually set a new lap record. Unfortunately that rivalry will not be renewed at the Classic TT because Hutchinson will be on British Superstock duty at Cadwell Park.

The Isle of Man forms one of the most daunting motorcycle circuits in the world

When the flag drops for Superbike race, all eyes will be on Dunlop and Anstey. Both have won the Classic Superbike race before, with Dunlop having won two to Anstey’s one. However, Kiwi Anstey had the upper hand in outright speed; in last year’s race he set a new lap record of 126.261mph on board a fiery Yamaha YZR500 four-cylinder two-stroke.

Amazingly, of the 70-plus entrants for this year’s Superbike race, 13 lapped at an average of more than 120mph in the same race last year.

Ulster rider Dunlop aboard the Team Classic Suzuki XR69 setting the pace earlier this week. After setting a 121mph lap in Monday’s opening practice session, the following day he recorded a lap of 122.65mph. From a standing start.

Lap record-holder Anstey, on the same Yamaha YZR500 that won last year, retired on his opening lap.Second place was taken by Dean Harrison on a 750cc Kawasaki, while veteran road and track racer Michael Rutter finished third on his Harris-framed Yamaha with a lap of 120.763mph.

What's on at the Festival

The Classic TT is but one element of the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling, which runs until September 4th. The full list of events is: